Windows phone gets unofficial Instagram app

Users of smartphones running Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system may finally catch up with their iOS and Android counterparts with an app for photo-sharing service Instagram.

However, the app is not an official one from Instagram owner Facebook but rather one authored by French developed Rudy Huyn, tech site The Verge reported.

Dubbed 6tag, the free Windows Phone app "includes the majority of the Instagram features found on the official iOS and Android versions," The Verge said.

"(B)ut it's worth noting this is an unofficial third-party Instagram app and could stop working at any time if Facebook changes any of its APIs," it added.

For now, the app allows access to the original filters found in Instagram, along with video uploads and linear and radial blur effects.

It also allows support for sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, VK, and Foursquare.

Earlier, The Verge noted Instagram had modified its spam filters and blocked photos uploaded from third-party Instagram apps.

It said Facebook later tweaked its Instagram spam filters to allow third-party Instagram apps to continue uploading photos.

On the other hand, The Verge said Microsoft had built an Instagram app for Windows Phone some months back but has yet to release it.

"Instagram refuses to comment on if and when it plans to bring an official app to Windows Phone, so for now 6tag is the best alternative," it said.

Privacy issues?

Meanwhile, The Verge said some Windows Phone developers raised privacy concerns over 6tag.

Among the allegations are that saying 6tag allegedly keeps a copy of public and private videos and did not encrypt private account data. — VC, GMA News